Duration curtailed due to Corona pandemic
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, June 5: The duration of Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage to the holy cave in South Kashmir district of Anantnag is likely to be curtailed to 15 days this year in view of the spread of COVID-19 across the globe instead of normal duration of 43 days.
According to sources, the Yatra is likely to start on June 21 to Shravan Purnima falling on August 3 which also coincides with festival of Raksha Bandhan. However, instead of two tracks including traditional Pahalgam -Chandanwari track, the yatra will be allowed only through shortest Baltal route this time, sources added.
Sources said that pilgrimage will mostly be performed through choppers to avoid the road and track in view of threat of the COVID pandemic. The yatris registration will be made only through online and registration through counters will not be allowed this time anywhere in the country, they added.
However, this will not apply to the Sadhus embarking on the holy yatra and their registration as well as medical check up will be made at Jammu as well, sources, said adding, moreover, there will be no age bar on the Sadhus intending to have pilgrimage of Lord Shiva’s cave situated at an altitude of 3880 meters above the sea level in deep Himalayas in Kashmir valley.
No pilgrim other than Sadhus above the age of 55 years will be allowed to have pilgrimage this time, sources said and added that the pilgrims have to get the COVID negative certificates from their respective States and later they will also be cross examined here before leaving for holy cave.
Sources said in view of suspension of yatra by road and foot, the rates for chopper services will be fixed by Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) which manages the annual pilgrimage every year. The rates for choppers will be reasonable so that the same can be affordable for the pilgrims, they added.
Sources said in view of the terrain conditions of the traditional Pahalgam -Chandanwari track which is also longest route to holy cave, the SASB and other religious bodies connected with the yatra have decided to allow the yatra only via shortest Baltal track to avert the risk.
Sources said that these all points were discussed in a meeting which was held with Lt Governor, G C Murmu who is also the chairman of SASB by the members of Baba Amarnath and Buda Amarnath Yatri Niyas (BABAYN) here this evening.
During the meeting, the Niyas members also put a proposal that like the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine during the 15 days of pilgrimage the morning and evening Aarti at holy cave be telecast for the devotees.
Talking to Excelsior later, the president of BABAYN, Pawan Kohli said the Lt Governor agreed that the Aarti from the holy cave will be telecast for all 15 days both during the morning and evening hours for the devotees all over the country.
He said Niyas gave 12 suggestions to the SASB among which duration of yatra should not be less than 15 days this year was one which the Board accepted. The Niyas among other things also pressed for fixing of a reasonable fare for the choppers so that the pilgrims can afford the same and it also stressed that the registration be only made through online, he added.
He said the yatra will be conducted with social distancing measures and other SOPs in place and Board will take all possibilities into consideration in this regard.
Kohli said besides him, the meeting was attended by Brig (retd) Suchet Singh, RSS Sangchalak, Dr Gautam Mengi another senior leader of Sangh, Advocate Leela Karan Sharma, president VHP, Rajesh Gupta working president VHP, Advocate Karan Singh Charak senior vice president of the Niyas, Sudershan Khajuria ,its general secretary, Vivekananda Ji, organising secretary VHP and Shakti Dhut Sharma, general secretary VHP. He said every issue was discussed threadbare in a cordial manner and the Lt. Governor assured that all effective steps will be taken for smooth conduct and hassle free yatra.
Earlier to keep the tradition alive Pratham Poojan (first pooja) was performed here today amid chanting of Vedic mantras and a havan was jointly solemnized by SASB and BABAYN on the auspicious day of Jayesht Purnima today at Shri Chaitaniya Ashram, Talab Tillo.
The venue was changed this year due to COVID pandemic from Chandanwari, Pahalgam in Anantnag district of South Kashmir to Chaitanya Ashram, Jammu. During the Pratham Poojan all the rituals were performed by adopting SOPs including social distancing etc.
The SASB in the pooja was represented by Bipul Pathak, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Secretary to Lt Governor and he was accompanied by Anup Kumar Soni, Additional CEO, SASB while BABAYN was represented by Pawan Kohli its president, Karan Singh Charak its senior vice president, Sudershan Khajuria , general secretary and Rajesh Gupta, working president VHP.
It may be recalled that holy Amarnath yatra as per earlier schedule was of 43 days duration starting from June 23 to August 3 i.e festival of Raksha Bandhan. But the yatra duration was curtailed due to sudden spread of COVID -19.
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